Swiss Begin Trials for a New Reconnnaissance UAS

The Swiss air force and Armasuisse, the Swiss defence procurement agency, have recently commenced flight testing of two MALE UAS designs, it has emerged.

The Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) Heron 1 and Elbit Systems Hermes 900 were shortlisted by the Swiss armed forces after considering information on 11 different systems by nine UAS manufacturers.

Two Herons underwent a series of tests from 3 September until 21 September. As part of these tests, the all-weather and night capabilities of the Heron 1 were assessed during flights over central Switzerland and the Jura region.

A subsequent series of tests involving the Heron 900 will be held from 1 October until 19 October at Emmen air base.

The fly off is part of the selection and acquisition process for the ADS15 programme (Aufklärungsdrohnensystem – reconnaissance unmanned aerial system). A formal decision on which system will be acquired to replace the current inventory of ADS95 Ranger UAS is expected in early 2014.

The next step will be the procurement of ADS15 which is now planned to start in 2015.

The Ranger UAS currently in service is based on the IAI Scout and made its first flight in 1988. It was the first UAS to enter Swiss military service with Swiss company RUAG being responsible for production at Emmen.

Six pre-production ADS90 Rangers were used by the Swiss armed forces from 1988 until 1999. ADS95 entered service in June 1999 although the formal hand over to the Swiss Air Force did not occur until December 2001. Four systems consisting of two ground control stations and seven air vehicles each were procured. As of April 2012, 16 out of 28 production ADS95 air vehicles still remained in service.